A day to give a gift of life

Blood donors help during holidays when supplies are low.

Blood donors help during holidays when supplies are low.

December 30, 2009|By SHERRY VAN ARSDALL Tribune Staff Writer

DOWAGIAC -- Did you know that one pint of blood can save up to three lives? So, Sharon Kurdelmeyer, who has donated 25 units of blood for the American Red Cross, can see that her donations have helped up to 75 people. “I worked in the medical field for years and know how important it is to give blood,” the Dowagiac resident said. She hasn’t experienced any problems while giving blood, Kurdelmeyer said during a recent drive at Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church. Over the years, the units add up. Some donors end up giving 200 or more units over a period of decades. “I’m a regular,” she said. “I would encourage anyone to do it.” The goal for the day at Holy Maternity of Mary was 43 units, which would help build supplies that can run low during the holidays because of various reasons, said team supervisor Jeanne Robinson. “People are out shopping, there are too many things to do or they are busy traveling,” Robinson said. “The need is greater because of more accidents because more people are traveling.” Schools are on winter break, and 20 percent of donated blood comes from high school or college students, so that lowers supplies, she added. There are regular donors that’ll fight the weather, like Kurdelmeyer. The Knights of Columbus Council 2113 and Masons have sponsored the holiday blood drive for 12 years and Grand Knight Gerald Corey recalled the weather in 2008. “It was miserable and people still came out. They know it’s important, especially this time of year,” Corey said. He was pleased that the weather wasn’t bad enough to keep donors away. The volunteer workers at the blood drive try to make the donation process pleasant, Robinson said. Many donors have their own reasons for giving blood. As long as people can meet the criteria, they can give blood. Diabetics, for example, can donate if they have their diabetes under control and meet the other criteria, she said. “We find they’ll come back as regular donors, and where else can you go to have a good time, get free food and give the gift of life?” she said.